The ISO 26000 audit: 5 steps to assess your CSR strategy

Faced with the current challenges of sustainable development, activating a sustainable, effective and concrete CSR approach is more essential than ever for companies, regardless of their sector of activity. To attest to the CSR actions put in place, it is possible to obtain a certain number of standards and benchmarks. Among the best known is the ISO 2600 standard. What are the main principles exactly? And how to evaluate your CSR strategy through an ISO 26000 audit? Wayden gives you all his advice.

 

What is ISO 26000 auditing?

ISO 26000 provides guidelines for integrating social responsibility in all dimensions of an organization. Published in 2010 by International Organization for Standardization (ISO), it is aimed at all types of companies, regardless of their sector of activity or size.

Unlike other ISO standards (such as ISO 9001 or 14001), ISO 26000 is not certifiable. Its objective is not to issue a label, but to To provide a framework for good practices in terms of sustainable development, ethics, governance, human rights and relations with stakeholders.

Carrying out an ISO 26000 audit therefore means taking the time to make a structured diagnosis of your CSR commitments and practices, in order to identify areas for improvement and to anchor social responsibility in the company’s strategy in the long term, through a continuous improvement approach.

 

5 key steps to assess your CSR strategy with the ISO 26000 audit

The success of an ISO 26000 audit is based on a rigorous methodology and 5 essential steps to structure the process:

1. Clarify the objectives and scope of the audit

First of all, it is essential to define what the company is looking to evaluate : does it want to align its CSR commitments on a recognized framework? Preparing extra-financial reporting? To increase its transparency with customers, investors or employees? Or identify concrete margins for improvement?

This phase makes it possible to target priority issues, to adapt the scope (group or subsidiary, French or international scope, etc.) and to involve the right people from the start.

2. Understand ISO 26000 and its principles

The standard is based on 7 key principles, which guide all the guidelines:

1. Accountability
2. Transparency
3. Ethical behaviour
4. Respect for stakeholders’ interests
5. Respect for human rights
6. Compliance with international standards of behaviour
7. Respect for the law

In addition to these principles, there are 7 areas of action to be assessed in the audit: governance, human rights, labour relations and conditions, environment, fair practices, consumer issues, and community involvement.

Mastering these foundations makes it possible to build a coherent and relevant analytical grid.

3. Conduct a literature review

The audit begins with a phase of gathering the following information:

• Internal Reports,
• CSR indicators,
• HR policies,
• Conclusions of previous audits,
• Dashboards,
• Environmental or social commitments,
• Statements of non-financial performance,
• …

The objective here is to map the existing situation, to identify the actions carried out and to link them to the requirements of the standard.

4. Involve all stakeholders

A CSR strategy will only be effective if it is carried out collectively, by all the teams. The ISO 26000 audit therefore involves a number of listening, training and federating all the actors concerned: management, managers, employees, but also partners, suppliers, service providers, etc.

Training teams in the standard, raising their awareness of ethical and environmental issues and collecting their feedback from the field makes it possible to make a fair diagnosis, rooted in reality and to bring out an appropriate action plan.

5. Outsource the audit to a CSR interim manager

Call on an interim manager specialized in CSR can make all the difference in the conduct of the ISO 26000 audit. This expert, with an average career of 15 to 25 years in complex environments, is able to intervene on short missions (6 to 18 months) in order to structure, challenge and accelerate the CSR projects.

Here are some advantages of entrusting your ISO 26000 audit to a CSR interim manager:

• He knows the precise requirements of the ISO 26000 standard. 
• He brings an external and objective perspective. 
• It quickly detects inconsistencies, blind spots, or ineffective actions. 
• It challenges existing practices with diplomacy, while facilitating team buy-in. 
• It is a source of proposals to co-construct a structuring, realistic and measurable action plan.

 

Are you looking for a CSR interim manager for an ISO 26000 audit?

At WAYDEN, we mobilise specialised CSR interim managers capable of managing all aspects of the audit, federating stakeholders and ensuring the implementation of CSR actions in accordance with this recognised standard.

 

Contact us to find out more.